During the next day in the late afternoon, Adrian Mitchell finds himself knocking on Doctor Denman's office before gently opening the door and entering the room. He sees Linda Denman sitting at her desk, furiously typing away on her computer. The blonde scientist glances up briefly as she notices Adrian enter the office.
"Yes? What can I do for you, Adrian? I've kind of got a lot on my plate here." Linda asks as she gestures down towards her desk that is filled with files stacked upon files along with multiple DNA samples of Lewis' skin and scales, sitting in jars on the left side of the desk.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Doctor Denman. I was just wondering if there was anything else you wanted me to do today before I head home?" Adrian replies as he closes the door behind him and walks further into the office.
"Nah, it's all good. You've done plenty today, and I'm only finalising up some reports. Nothing too heavy, but there's just a lot of it. Unfortunately, if you want to do the fun parts of scientific research, you also have to do the most boring parts. Thank you though, Adrian. You have been such a great help through all of this." Linda smiles warmly.
"Frank and Troy have done their part as well," Adrian adds, though he's not sure why he is speaking up for them. Adrian isn't exactly on super friendly terms with Denman's other research assistance team members, but he still doesn't feel like getting all of the praise from Denman. Especially since Adrian is beginning to hate everything that is being done here with Lewis McCartney. Adrian was originally pulled into Linda Denman's research by pure curiosity and amazement; as Adrian started to look deeper into the situation, looking beyond his curiosity of merfolk, he began to realise that these experiments are completely inhumane and violate pretty much every ethic and moral in existence.
However, Adrian tries to push this line of thinking to the back of his mind as much as possible, considering it doesn't change anything. He doesn't see any way for himself to get out of this mess. Not without ending up in jail for the rest of his life, anyway. God, why did he ever get involved in all of this in the first place? The horror and guilt are now severely outweighing Adrian's initial interest in studying supposedly mythological beings, that's for sure. All that the scientist can hope for is that maybe he can eventually get Linda to realise how wrong this research project is. It unnerves Adrian to see his older colleague treat a teenager like an expendable object.
"Frank and Troy? Well, they're good bodyguards I suppose, but they aren't exactly... the brightest. They certainly haven't contributed much on an intellectual level for this project the way that you have," Linda laughs heartily.
"Well, why not just hire more people like me, then?" Adrian quips an eyebrow quizzically.
"Unfortunately when you have been shamed and discredited by the entire scientific community and have to resort to private investors, you can't exactly be too choosy when it comes to research assistants." Linda lets out a small sigh, smiling wryly.
"I suppose not," Adrian chuckles half-heartedly. "So, what are you currently working on? Surely it has to be something interesting since you're typing so fast on your computer?"
"As I said, I'm only writing up reports and creating more project proposals and hypotheses. Nothing too exciting, just standard research protocol. Sometimes I wish that the paperwork could just write itself. However, some of the content and the possibilities of where all of this research could take us is pretty exciting, keeping me motivated to get this paperwork done," Linda admits honestly.
"What is it? Has Lewis finally told you about how he became a merman?" Adrian asks with curiosity, taking a step towards Denman's desk.
"No, no. Of course not. Subject A has been very resistant to any sort of questions since day one, and I don't think that'll change. He wants to protect his friends. At the moment, I'm just happy with him cooperating with our experiments. Besides, I have a theory on how it happened already. But no, that's not what I'm working on currently." Linda replies, a flash of excitement beginning to light up in her eyes.
"Oh?" Adrian frowns in confusion.
"I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to isolate the bases within the DNA structure that causes Subject A's complete cellular mutation. Once I have been able to do that, I will be able to try and replicate it so that we can reverse engineer it and add these mutating cells into cancer patients, in hope of trying to repair the already damaged cancer cells within the patients. We are on the verge of a breakthrough that could change the world as we know it in so many ways!" Linda exclaims excitedly.
"You think that Lewis' complete cellular mutation could lead to a cure for cancer?" Adrian asks in surprise.
"Yes! But why stop at cancer? We possibly hold the answer to perfecting the human genome! No more birth defects altogether! We could transform the damaged cells back into healthy cells, or mutate any extra chromosomes to function as normal chromosomes!" Linda says as she gets up from her desk and walks around it, making her way over to Adrian with a huge smile on her face.
"That sounds impossible," Adrian replies, disbelief and astonishment underlying his tone as his eyebrows raise slightly in bemusement.
"It should be impossible, but our test subject is living proof that it's not! We are on the verge of bringing humanity into a new era of evolution," Linda states confidently, an excited gleam in her eyes. Adrian says nothing, still trying to process the slightest possibility of being able to treat cancer much more effectively.
"Actually, maybe there is one more thing that you can do for me today, Adrian." Linda adds suddenly as a thought suddenly pops into her head. The marine biologist places a hand on her research colleague's shoulder.
"And what might that be?" Adrian queries curiously.
"I need you to call Robert Wilson for me. Tell him that I'm going to need more time with Subject A. There are many more tests that I still need to run; I need more DNA samples, blood test results and more biopsies in both of the subject's forms. I would say that I will need a few more weeks at least to get everything I need." Linda responds casually, as if she was merely rattling off a list of errands she needed to do at the shops. The haunting idea of Linda's feelings towards unethical experiments are interchangeable with shopping errands makes Adrian's stomach flip and twists queasily.
"But... is that safe? Lewis has already been put through a lot. I don't know if his body will be able to handle much more..." Adrian asks hesitantly, shifting on his feet uncomfortably.
"Honestly, probably not. There is a chance that the subject could die," Linda shrugs honestly.
"Wouldn't that be a bad thing, Doctor?" Adrian frowns in confusion.
"Not necessarily. I think it would be a good idea to be able to perform an autopsy on the subject, truly examining how his body works from the inside. It would also be interesting to see if his body will still transform even in post mortem." Linda replies.
"Pardon my saying so, but I don't think Wilson would be very happy if you gave him a deceased merman. He's funded your research in exchange for giving him a pet and a way to get powers for himself, did he not? How can that happen if Lewis is dead?" Adrian continues to try and reason with Denman, gently prying her hand off of his shoulder and instinctively taking a small step backwards.
"Eh, it's fine, I'm not too worried about that. Subject A has three mermaid friends that I will be able to easily get my hands on once I need to. That merman was so gullible for thinking that I would keep his friends out of this. They will all play key individual roles in this research study," Linda comments dismissively.
"Don't you think that this is all going a little bit too far? He's still a human being, isn't he? He was born human! How can we keep treating him this way, as if he's no more than a speck of dirt?!" Adrian exclaims in disbelief.
"He gave up being human the moment he first grew a tail! That's on him. And if Lewis was a little bit older, maybe he would appreciate the sacrifices that he is making to the greater good of humanity as a whole." Linda snaps harshly, her expression suddenly changing to an icy cold stare, eyes narrowing suspiciously towards Adrian.
"Does that mean that we have to stop acting human? Come on, we can't experiment on him to the point of death! Whatever he is, Lewis is still a living being with complex thoughts and feelings, just like us! Were you not the one that told me just after I started working with you, that science isn't just about satisfying your own curiosity, but it also has to have a greater purpose that benefits everyone? How is this benefiting Lewis, exactly?" Adrian argues back, anger, disgust and horror boiling underneath his skin, ready to explode.
"This isn't just about my own curiosity, Adrian. As I've just explained to you, this research could help change the future of medicine and human evolution forever. We could save lives! I thought you understood that? What's changed?" Linda retorts suspiciously, folding her arms against her chest.
"He's just a kid, Linda! Even if he isn't totally human, the boy still has family that would be grieving him, having no idea that Lewis is still alive! How can you just look past all of this? These experiments are not just hurting Lewis. Scientific research should not be conducted like this. People should not be getting hurt," Adrian exclaims, hating himself for actually thinking that any of this was okay when he first got here. It all just feels like a sick nightmare now.
"Stop thinking about those short term 'issues'. In the end, only the long term results really matter. Who cares about one family? They'll move on eventually. Besides, I'm sure if the subject's family knew about what he has become, they probably wouldn't even want him. We're doing the subject a favour by not forcing his family to reject him in front of him." Linda retaliates snappishly.
"I don't want to be responsible for killing someone," Adrian replies quietly, staring coldly back at Doctor Denman.
"Well, it's a good thing you won't be, then. If the subject is looking likely to die, I'll make sure you aren't involved in it, or the autopsy. Whatever. But stop letting that creature rub off on you, Adrian. It may sometimes look like it, but it isn't human. Don't forget that. Our studies can potentially put an end to diseases that kill millions of people every year. I think that's more important than one half-fish mutant." Linda states warningly. There are a couple of seconds of intense silence, both scientists staring at each other harshly, neither one wanting to back down. Eventually, Linda takes a deep breath and closes her eyes for a small moment to regain her composure. Once her eyes open again, she forces a smile in Adrian's direction.
"Now, will you still make the phone call for me, or will I have to do it myself?" Linda asks, her right eyebrow whipping upwards slightly.
"I'll do it," Adrian sighs defeatedly, not wanting to lose his job. Besides, arguing with Linda isn't going to make the situation any better for anyone.
"Good. I'll leave you to it, then." Linda announces before walking back over to her desk, sitting down and begins typing furiously away on her computer once more. Adrian sighs again before turning on his heels and walks out of Doctor Denman's office, making sure to close the door behind him. As Adrian begins to make his way through the maze of corridors, he pulls out his phone and punches in a number, placing the phone up to his ear. A couple of rings go by before the person on the other end picks up.
"This is Robert Wilson speaking," the voice on the other end of the phone announces.
"Hi, this is Doctor Adrian Mitchell. I'm Doctor Denman's research partner. She wanted me to give you a message." Adrian replies.
"Ah, what a coincidence! I have an exciting message for her, too!" Wilson states with an air of smug proudness underlying his voice.
"Well, uh, unfortunately, there is going to be a little bit of a delay with Lewis McCartney. Linda wants to run more tests and expects it to take at least several more weeks. And, uh... she suspects that there is a chance that Lewis may not survive." Adrian explains hesitantly, not knowing what Robert's response is going to be.
"I see..." Robert says, and then there are several seconds of uncomfortable silence which Adrian isn't sure if he should break. Instead, he just continues his way through the maze of corridors, towards the exit of the underground lab.
"No matter, no matter. According to Denman, she has the location of three mermaids. Friends of the merman, in fact. Besides, even if that falls through, this is where my good news comes in." Robert continues, eventually putting an end to the tense silence.
"Which is?" Adrian asks expectantly.
"As you may or may not be aware, I have given Linda enough funding to set up many underwater cameras and even some movement sensor activated netting traps underwater, mostly around coral reefs and coastal areas. From what Linda has told me, she has managed to set these cameras and traps up all along the eastern Australian coast along with the coastal areas surrounding New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands," Robert begins to tell Adrian.
"So?" Adrian inquires, wondering what could possibly be the big deal. He hears a scoff on the other end of the phone.
"So, one of my colleagues have just gotten into contact with me and have told me that they have found something in one of the net traps off of New Zealand's coast, near the Bay of Islands, I believe." Robert continues, his voice barely able to contain his glee.
"I'm assuming it didn't capture just an ordinary fish, did it?" Adrian concludes as he stops in front of one of the security rooms, with the door having been left wide open. Dozens of monitors are hooked up onto the wall, showing camera footage of the main areas of the underground facility. Adrian can't help but glance over to the screen that is showing Lewis' holding cell, where it appears that Lewis is pacing around frantically and anxiously inside. Adrian lets out a heavy sigh, guilt forming into a ball in the pit of his stomach.
"Right you are, Mitchell. We have found another merman!" Adrian can practically hear Robert's delighted grin through the phone.
"Wow. That's... amazing. Doctor Denman will be excited to hear the news. I'll let her know for you." Adrian says as he continues to stare at Lewis on the security monitor, watching as the teenager bangs uselessly against the cell door.
"Thank you, Doctor Mitchell. And please also tell Linda that she doesn't need to worry about going too far with her experiments on the creature that she already has. We certainly have a few backup plans." Robert replies with an air of finality.
"Will do, sir." Adrian promises before hanging up the phone, placing it back in his pocket, and begins walking away from the security room.